Toto, we're back in Kansas!

After a forty year absence, I'm living back home again. It's so lovely to be near my folks, especially as they are getting older. It's my dad's 89th birthday today, and yesterday we celebrated with a fantastic dinner at Jack Stack's barbecue house in Martin City, Missouri.

I live about an hour away from them and every drive is a pleasure. I take side trips and errand detours and get to see the lovely skies and prairie farm life all around me.

One of the errands is to the Louisburg Cider Mill, because my dad can no longer drive down to buy his favorite cinnamon apple cider. 

Kansas is full of lowers in summer. At the cider mill, even the bathroom stalls are blooming and dishware is turned into garden events.

My favorite wildflower is the black eyed susan. Yes, there is another flower with the same name, and these are often called "ditch sunflowers" here to note the difference.

I live in Fort Scott, a small town of about 8,000. Sadly, old politics has long kept out new businesses and Nevada, Mo, with about the same population and 15 minutes away, is thriving with what Fort Scott voted to dismiss. So sad. The people are so lovely, but you know, politics is not my cup of tea. I have no patience for it.

A good number of streets in Fort Scott are still brick cobblestone and at the end of Main Street is the historic fort. You can just walk through and see all the buildings and restored interiors with period decor and household items.

My favorite place in town is the Treasure Hunt flea market. It's a remarkably well-stocked antiques market with phenomenal prices.

But one of the best sights is the corn. I love driving past the corn fields (though I shudder to think they are probably all GMO). It's a true Kansas treat.

Next time you're driving through Kansas, take your time. It's flat as heck on the west side, but here in the east, it's rolling hills and historic towns full of really nice people and handmade local crafts galore.

I've missed you, World Wide Web-sters

Yes! It HAS been a really, really long time since I've blogged and shared.

Last fall, I had the chance to come visit my folks and with my parents getting older, hubby and I decided it would be best if I could stay around and help out.So I'm settled in a little house on the prairie - no kidding - in Kansas. The four room house was built in 1891 and has had a couple of rooms added since. There's a small Amish settlement just outside of town and a farmer's market on weekends.

There's a woodchuck living under the shed, and I've seen wild turkeys, armadillos, red squirrels, cardinals, blue jays, orioles, red-headed woodpeckers, and a small barn owl on the land.

My favorite are the fireflies that rise from their underground homes at dusk. It looks like the ground is sending sparks up, there are so many.

There are wonders on this almost acre, like this Victorian tin ceiling tile tacked to the side of the old shed.

Family has kept me busy. My dad got sick shortly after I arrived and my mom is glad to have a daughter nearby for help.

I have managed to keep meeting magazine project deadlines. In May, I started to create new patterns and projects for my Etsy shop and am happy to share them with you. 

Some have been made for the shop and some I designed for craft magazines and the rights have reverted back to me.

If you subscribe to the newsletter, check your email. The weekly newsletter is being revived from hibernation. 

Please enjoy a stroll through the Etsy shop, the free tutorials on the blog, and Embroidery School. It's nice to be settled and have the opportunity to hand-make and share lovely things again. 

Best of all, it's nice to be home enjoying the simple joy of family time.